CONTENTS

1. Letter from the Executive Board 2. Know Your Executive Board

3. Introduction and Events leading up to the 4. Family Tree

5. A Chronology of the Wars of the Roses

Greetings my Ladies and Lords, Let me start off by promising that the JCC at SFCMUN 2019 will be one of the most engaging and intellectually stimulating committees you have done. The committee holds promise to dwell into fine nuances of research, innovative solutions and quality argumentation. However, let me lay certain caveats. The agenda at hand happens to be medieval that means delegates may find contrasting sources and issues of facts on similar questions. The resources created at that time were far from being objective because knowledge creation was concentrated in the hands of the feudal elite as opposed to the comparatively democratic institutions of knowledge in status quo. History and books were written to please the ruling order for gaining patronage or for gaining noble privileges. A good strategy to research is to explore diverse sources. Do not restrict yourself to any one author, website or blog. A general overview of the situation would be highly advised. Also bearing the nature of a JCC, this committee expects you to do research in context of your allotted portfolios. A common mistake I see delegates making is the authority-resource paralysis/mismatch. A term used to point out errors that delegates commit when they authorize and execute functions that were not in the nature of function that was to be discharged or a jurisdiction that came within their powers. A common example for the aforementioned problem is when delegates holding agricultural/financial portfolios give action plans for assassination of political/diplomatic dignitaries. Kindly refrain from such arbitrary and impulsive plans.

The rules of procedures of our cabinet () will be fairly simple and will be explained in the committee itself. The language of communication in the committee will be English and keeping in mind the nature of the agenda and the committee, access to internet will be strictly disallowed during committee sessions unless instructed otherwise. The committee hold zero tolerance towards individuals who disrespect the executive board, fellow delegates and logistics members and any proven case of misconduct will be reported to the secretariat and the individual may also be disqualified from the award structure of the committee. Model UN activities today are facing problems of neglection by senior EB’s and I consciously choose not to be a party to such practices. On a personal level I expect quick, tactical, logical thinking from the delegates and the will to learn. There literally are no other requirements in my cabinet. My Lords and ladies listen to the bugle announce war, the time has come to defend the ambitions our ancestors saw together as a tribe. This is our time in history, and we will claim it.

Best, Shubh Sahai, Chair to the House of York.

My mighty Lancastrians,

As England recovers post the century of war with the French, we face some critical situation following the death of the Chancellor. Faced from some uncalled personal situations, the king is left in a weak spot and has opened the kingdom to be attacked. The faces the challenge of delegitimization of its rule. In such situations of external and internal threats, we have to look beyond our shores for allies to help us counter the rising threat.

A century of war has left us in the meshes of socio- economic slowdown which becomes more uncertain with a weak leadership at the helm of the public affairs. It is imperative that we address the public sentiment which has been weakened by both the war and the imminent crisis at hand. In order to be successful in our administration, we must maintain a strong leadership at the top of our kingdom hierarchy while avoiding possible conflicts.

The political unrest in our kingdom has allowed Richard of York to lay his claim to the throne and his progress must be checked. He has a possible support of the parliament and we must shift that support towards our claim. In our dual goal of restoring confidence in King Henry VI and preventing conflict, we must strive to improve areas of health, strong control in the countryside, tax reforms, extension of centralised control, public outreach and better governance in all areas.

As your chairperson, I expect you all to be well aware of the situation in the country and within the kingdom to come up with plans to counter the rise of the Yorks. Please notes that we will try to stay away from a war and move forward to strengthening our social structure to secure our claims to the English throne. I take up my task with buoyancy and hope and tell to the House and its allies that we will fight for our claim till the end while being scrupulous about each of our actions and policies.

Best, Neel Lohit Pandey Chair to the House of Lancaster

Know Your Executive Board-

Shubh Sahai, Neel Lohit Pandey,

Chairperson, Chairperson,

House of York. House of Lancaster. [email protected] [email protected]

Shresth Bindal,

Crisis Director.

[email protected]

Introduction and events leading up to the Wars of the Roses-

Fought between 1455 and 1485, the Wars of the Roses were a dynastic struggle for the English crown which pitted the Houses of Lancaster and York against each other. Initially the Wars of the Roses centred on fighting for control of the mentally-ill Henry VI, but later became a struggle for the throne itself. The fighting ended in 1485 with the ascension of Henry VII to the throne and the beginning of the Tudor Dynasty. Though not used at the time, the name of the conflict originates from badges associated with the two sides: the and the .

The antagonism between the Houses of Lancaster and York began in 1399 when Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster deposed his unpopular cousin King Richard II. A grandson of Edward III, through John of Gaunt, his claim to the English throne was relatively weak compared to his Yorkist relations. Reigning until 1413 as Henry IV, he was forced to put down numerous uprisings to maintain the throne. On his death, the crown passed to his son, Henry V. A great warrior known for his victory at Agincourt, Henry V only survived until 1422 when he was succeeded by his nine-month old son Henry VI. For most of his minority, Henry was surrounded by unpopular advisors such as the Duke of , Cardinal Beaufort, and the Duke of Suffolk.

During Henry VI's reign, the French gained the upper hand in the Hundred Years' War and began driving English forces from France. A weak and ineffective ruler, Henry was heavily advised by the who desired peace. This position was countered by Richard, Duke of York who wished to continue fighting. A descendent of Edward III's second and fourth

sons, he possessed a strong claim to the throne. By 1450, Henry

VI began experiencing bouts of insanity and three years later was judged unfit to rule. This resulted in a Council of Regency being formed with York at its head as Lord Protector. Imprisoning Somerset, he worked to expand his power but was forced to step down two years later when Henry VI recovered.

Forcing York from court, Queen Margaret sought to reduce his power and became the effective head of the Lancastrian cause. Angered, he assembled a small army and marched on London with the stated goal of removing Henry's advisors. The clash with royal forces at St. Albans on May 22, 1455 began the Wars of the Roses.

st NOTE- The Freeze Date would be 1 May, 1455. This means that any event that occurred after the aforementioned date cannot be mentioned in the committee formally. Moreover, any document presented to the Executive Board which consists of resources developed/ discovered after the Freeze Date would become invalid or could lead to severe changes in the flow of the cabinets, thus resulting

in a lock-jaw situation for the Lord/ Lady who used it.

FAMILY TREE-

A Chronology of the Wars of the Roses-

• 22 May 1455: First Battle of St Albans. A Yorkist victory during which the Duke of Somerset was killed. The Duke of York was re- appointed Protector, then dismissed again in 1456. Queen Margaret fuelled anti-Yorkist sentiment at court. Richard, Duke of York’s influence was undermined and he was excluded from the royal council. • 23 September 1459: . A Yorkist victory. • 12 October 1459: Battle of Ludford Bridge. This time, a Lancastrian victory. The Queen declared Yorkist property and lives forfeit. Richard of York fled to Ireland. • 10 July 1460: Battle of Northampton. A Yorkist victory; King Henry VI captured. Massacre of prisoners ordered by the Earl of Warwick. The Queen fled to Wales. • 10 October 1460: The return of Richard of York who was declared heir to the throne. In response, the Queen raised a new army. • 30 December 1460: . The Yorkists were defeated and Richard, Duke of York, was killed. He was succeeded by his son Edward. • 2 February 1461: Battle of Mortimer Cross. Richard of York’s son Edward, Earl of March was victorious. • 17 February 1461: Second Battle of St Albans. A victory for the House of Lancaster. Henry VI rescued. • 4 March 1461: Edward of York, Edward IV, proclaimed king in London. • 9 March 1461: . Another Yorkist victory for The Earl of Warwick. Flight of King Henry, Queen Margaret and the Prince of Wales to Scotland. • 24 June 1465: Henry VI captured and imprisoned in the . • 1 May 1470: After quarrelling with Edward IV, Warwick the Kingmaker fled to France There he joined forces with Queen

Margaret before returning to England and restoring the Lancastrian Henry VI to the throne on 13th October.

• 14 March 1471: The Yorkist King Edward fled to France, returning with a small army. • 14 April 1471: . A victory for Edward’s Yorkist army. Warwick the Kingmaker killed. • 4 May 1471: Battle of . A defeat for the Lancastrian army, led by Queen Margaret and the Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales was killed and the queen was captured. • 21- 22 May 1471: Henry VI was killed in the Tower of London. Henry Tudor, the Earl of Richmond and Lancastrian claimant to the throne, fled to France. The Yorkist Edward IV was now the

undisputed king. • 9 April 1483: Death of Edward IV, succeeded by his young son Edward V. • June 1483: Edward V and his brother declared illegitimate by Parliament. Richard Duke of Gloucester, brother of Edward IV, asked to take the throne as Richard III • 7 August 1485: Henry Tudor, last of the Lancastrians, landed at Milford Haven in Wales. • 22 August 1485: Battle of Bosworth. King Richard III killed and the Lancastrian Henry Tudor became King Henry VII.

Henry married Elizabeth of York thus uniting the two houses, and founded the Tudor dynasty. The includes both red and white roses to symbolise the uniting of the Houses of York and Lancaster.

Thus, Lords and Ladies, get suited because you don’t know what’s coming your way during the WARS OF THE ROSES.